(threat continued)
In particular, the proposed two ramps from the East Capitol Street entrance would cut 18 feet into the ground, requiring two large retaining walls which would be further accentuated by a 42-inch safety railing to prevent visitors on the upper level from falling below into the opening of the entrance. The scale and location of these two entrance ramps into the Visitor Center would dramatically alter the historic landscape in fundamental ways: redesigning 1) its topographic structure and 2) its spatial organization, especially the East Capitol Street axis and flanking, tree allees so important to the Olmsted-designed entrance experience.
National groups like the National Association of Olmsted Parks have agreed that the proposed design is not "historic preservation" but a new design. It significantly alters historic visual and spatial relationships, destroys historic topographic features and severs the continuity of historic circulation patterns, which were all paramount to Olmsted's design as articulated in his earliest proposals.
For example, the "hardscape" drawing suggests that "the landscape will be returned to the original Olmsted plan. However, upon review of this drawing it is difficult to discern what is being preserved or restored or to differentiate between authentic historic fabric and new design elements. The ramifications of this new construction, which also alter significant spatial and visual relationships and character-defining topography, threaten this national treasure.
For nationally significant historic designed landscapes such as this,
The Secretary's Standards for Historic Preservation and The Guidelines
for the Treatment of Cultural Landscapes (National Park Service, 1996)
states that it is typical to prepare a Cultural Landscape Report (CLR)
and a Treatment Plan prior to undertaking design. Surely, the Capitol
Grounds is an important enough landscape to merit the use of this approach
as well.
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